The search for missing nursing student Michelle Le is now being called a homicide.

The Hayward police department made that determination late Monday afternoon. Le's body still has not been found but the department issued a release saying, "We realize this is the worst possible news for Michelle's family and friends, and for everyone involved in looking for her. Despite everyone's hopes, our effort to find Michelle is officially an effort of recovery."

The release went on to say it decided to call the case a homicide investigation after a forensic examination of Le's car, multiple interviews of persons of interest and video evidence.

As of Monday night, the Hayward police department said 25 people have been questioned regarding the case.

Earlier Monday the family released a statement critical of the department saying in part, "Our family believes the Hayward police department is not adequately staffed and do not have enough personnel to work on a missing person case. We have been assured they have personnel working 'around the clock', yet only six personnel are assigned to the team, and of those, three recently went on vacation. "

Le was reported missing after not returning to the hospital from the parking garage at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward Friday night.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Hayward Police at 510-293-7034.